Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Attorney-General what contribution he is making to Government action to combat human trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Garnier: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) vigorously prosecutes defendants who have been charged with human trafficking offences. In addition, the CPS plays an important role in preventing harm from trafficking from reaching the UK, through prosecutors working with source countries to improve the ability of overseas investigators and prosecutors in case building and prosecution to disrupt human trafficking at source. The CPS is also working with source countries to improve international co-operation to assist in the provision of information and evidence to support prosecutions in the UK. The CPS published a new policy statement on the prosecution of cases of Human Trafficking on 2 June 2011 that explains the prosecution process to those who support victims of trafficking.
	I am also a member of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking which takes a strategic interest in human trafficking issues across Government.

Departmental Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses;
	(2)  how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010;
	(3)  how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was.

Jonathan Djanogly: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010 my Department neither introduced nor removed any regulations with regulatory impact.
	In the six months after 1 September my Department introduced one regulatory measure with regulatory impact that imposes costs on business: The Legal Services Act 2007 (Levy) (No.2) Rules 2010.
	The running costs of the Legal Services Board for 2010-11 are around £4.7 million. These costs are apportioned to Approved Regulators in accordance with the number of authorised persons they regulate. The funding of these costs is entirely at the discretion of the Approved Regulators, whether they treat it as a fixed overhead or recharge it to members.
	The Office for Legal Complaints did not become operational until October 2010, annual costs are estimated to be £19.9 million.
	The Ministry of Justice had no regulatory measures within the scope of the one-in, one-out regulatory management system.

Unpaid Fines

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the monetary value of outstanding fines for criminal offences imposed by courts in England and Wales.

Jonathan Djanogly: As at the end of May 2011 the balance outstanding for financial penalties was £609,516,266.
	This amount includes fines imposed in the magistrates and Crown courts, prosecutor costs, compensation orders, victims surcharge and the value of unpaid fixed penalty notices and penalty notices which are transferred to HMCTS for enforcement. The amount outstanding also includes the balance of accounts which are being paid by agreed payment plans.

Young Offenders: Death

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young people have died while under supervision in the community by youth offending teams in (a) 2011 to date and (b) each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The number of deaths in the community during the period 2006 to 2011 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Deaths in England and Wales 
			 2006 and 2007 32 
			 2008(1) 32 
			 2009 32 
			 2010 23 
			 2011 (to 31 May) 13 
			 (1) The figure for 2008 includes one individual who died over the age of 19 but had continued to be under the supervision of a youth offending team. 
		
	
	These figures relate to incidents reported to the YJB from youth offending teams (YOTs) across England and Wales where a young person has died in the community while under the supervision of a YOT.
	We have sought information from the Office for National Statistics about the number of deaths of young people aged 10 to 18 in the general population in England and Wales over the same period. As a rough measure these figures indicate that the percentage of deaths of young people under YOT supervision as a proportion of the numbers of young people in the youth justice system and the number of deaths of 10-18 year olds as a proportion of the general 10-18 population are broadly similar.
	However, the information provided by the ONS should be treated with caution and is provided by way of context only. It does not provide an exact comparison.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the timetable for the roll-out of broadband in rural areas.

Edward Vaizey: The Government remains committed to stimulating commercial investment to provide the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.

Olympic Games 2012: Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the plans for the London 2012 Olympics include the generation of low-carbon energy at any events or venues.

Hugh Robertson: The Games-time energy mix will come from mains electricity; on-site temporary power generation; and local low carbon energy sources, including photovoltaics (PVs), and small scale wind turbines.
	The Venues on the Olympic Park have been designed to be energy efficient in operation, maximising use of natural ventilation and lighting. The Park Energy Centre will provide low carbon cooling, heating and power in Games-time, and over the longer term post-Games, from biomass boilers and a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) plant which can be converted to use lower and zero carbon fuels as these technologies develop.

Tourism: North East

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to promote tourism in the North East.

John Penrose: I had the opportunity to visit the North East in June, during which I held meetings with local industry representatives to discuss the opportunities for tourism growth and development.
	Over the next four years VisitBritain will be running the “You're Invited” programme, which will capitalise on the international interest in the recent royal wedding, as well as next year's diamond jubilee and Olympic and Paralympic games, and showcase Britain to the world. The programme aims to attract four million extra visitors, spending £2 billion in the UK economy, which will support businesses, jobs and growth. The programme is backed by a £100 million marketing fund, funded by the public and private sector.
	VisitEngland is working closely with local areas and destinations, in line with Government's localism agenda, to grow the value of local tourism economies. This is co-ordinated through the national strategic framework for tourism, which includes an action programme developed in consultation with the tourism sector. VisitEngland is currently working with destinations across the country, including in the North East, on a campaign to deliver economic growth from the domestic market, and to support employment and job creation.
	‘The time to be in England’ initiative will maximise the impact of the unique events of 2012, including the Queens diamond jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic games, helping to spread the benefits of the games beyond London and maintain a legacy of domestic tourism growth. The campaign is the subject of a bid to the second round of the regional growth fund.
	Tourism policy seeks to help improve the sector's productivity and competitiveness, in particular, to address the burden of regulation affecting the industry. The Government's Red Tape Challenge focused on the hospitality sector in May, inviting the industry and the public to identify regulations holding back the industry and stifling growth. Alongside this, the Government have set up an industry task force, led by senior industry figures, to identify rules, regulations and inspections impeding the sector, and which might be cut, modified or abolished.
	The Government's plans for promoting the growth of the visitor economy are set out in detail in the paper, “Government Tourism Policy” published in March 2011, and available at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx

Andrew Coulson

Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  on what subjects Mr Andrew Coulson had access to classified material;
	(2)  whether Mr Andrew Coulson had access to (a) classified and (b) highly classified material relating to (i) defence matters, (ii) operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, (iii) domestic security matters and (iv) other foreign policy matters;
	(3)  what level of security clearance Mr Andrew Coulson had whilst working at Number 10 Downing street; and to what vetting he was subject prior to the issue of such security clearance;
	(4)  whether Mr Andrew Coulson attended any meetings at which classified material relating to (a) defence matters, (b) operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, (c) domestic security matters and (d) foreign policy were discussed.

David Cameron: Special advisers carry out their duties in accordance with the ‘Model Contract for Special Advisers’ and ‘Code of Conduct for Special Advisers’. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 16 June 2010, Official Report, column 423W.

Ports: EU Action

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to implement the European State Port Control Directive.

Michael Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has implemented a risk based inspection scheme for foreign registered vessels calling at UK ports from 1 January 2011 when the directive took effect.
	Regulations and supporting documents to transpose provisions of the directive that place duties on the shipping sector have been prepared for consultation with the industry which is expected to begin soon.

Independent International Commission on Decommissioning

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to the public purse was of the work of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning since its commencement.

Owen Paterson: The Independent International Commission for Decommissioning running costs are shared equally between the British and Irish Governments. The total cost to the British and Irish Governments from inception to closure was £12,215,884 with the British Government contributing £6,107,942.

Post-conflict Planning: Libya

Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department is undertaking to support post-conflict planning for Libya.

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department is undertaking to support post-conflict planning for Libya.

Andrew Mitchell: Post conflict planning must be Libyan owned and UN led. The UK has taken steps to support this process by deploying an International Stabilisation Response Team to Benghazi. We stand ready to respond to the needs of the Libyan people working with international partners in a coordinated and effective way.

East Africa: Droughts

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people affected by the drought in East Africa.

Andrew Mitchell: According to UN estimates, around 10 million people in the Horn of Africa are currently in need of humanitarian assistance and emergency levels of acute malnutrition are widespread. About half of those in need of assistance are in Ethiopia, 2.8 million are affected in Somalia and 2.5 million in Kenya. This is the most severe food security emergency in the world today.

Forests: Satellite Communications

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is funding the use of Earth observation satellite technology to monitor and tackle deforestation in the Congo Basin.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development is helping tackle deforestation in the Congo Basin through support to the African Development Bank managed Congo Basin Forest Fund (the CBFF) and the Congo Basin Forestry Start-up Fund.
	The Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) is currently funding one project that is using remote-sensing data from satellite technology to determine the carbon stocks of forests in the Republic of Congo. The project is led by be World Resources Institute (WRI), in partnership with Republic of Congo Government and local institutions.
	DFID established the Congo Basin Forestry Start-up Fund in 2008, before the CBFF became operational. It was originally intended that support to earth observation satellite technology would be included within its portfolio of activities. However this element of the programme has not been implemented.

Malawi: Overseas Aid

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision not to increase direct aid to Malawi on the provision of healthcare in that country.

Stephen O'Brien: In his announcement of DFID's Bilateral Aid Review to the House on 1 March 2011 the Secretary of State indicated his intention to increase UK aid funding to Malawi over the four years to 2014-15.
	Since then we have become increasingly concerned about economic management and governance in Malawi. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), has raised these concerns with the Government of Malawi, and concluded that, until there are changes in Government of Malawi policy we can no longer justify the provision of general budget support to the Government of Malawi.
	However, we are determined to continue funding programmes that protect the poor. DFID support to strengthen the health service in Malawi has helped save the lives of 3,200 pregnant women and 40,000 children since 2004. We are currently considering how best to continue support to improve the provision of healthcare in Malawi.

Malawi: Overseas Aid

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision not to increase direct aid to Malawi on the production of maize crops in that country.

Stephen O'Brien: In his announcement of DFID's Bilateral Aid Review to the House on 1 March 2011, Official Report, columns 167-169, the Secretary of State for International Development indicated his intention to increase UK aid funding to Malawi over the four years to 2014-15.
	Since then we have become increasingly concerned about economic management and governance in Malawi. The Secretary of State has raised these concerns with the Government of Malawi, and concluded that, until there are changes in Government of Malawi policy we can no longer justify the provision of general budget support to the Government of Malawi.
	However, we are determined to continue funding programmes that protect the poor. DFID support has helped improve food security for over 7 million people a year by providing them with high yielding maize and legume seeds via the Farm Input Subsidy Programme. We are currently considering how best to continue support to improve the production of maize crops in Malawi.

Overseas Aid

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that aid programmes are directed towards those countries who are in greatest need; and what plans he has for the future of the aid programme to India.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department has recently conducted a full review of bilateral aid. Future bilateral support will be focused on twenty seven countries where the need is greatest and we can make the most impact.
	I have frozen the India programme at current levels (£280 million/year) until 2015. Over the next four years, the India programme will focus more tightly on the poorest states. Our goal will be to help the poorest women and girls get quality schooling, healthcare, nutrition and jobs to break the cycle of poverty for the next generation. We will also devote a progressively rising proportion of our programme to promoting pro-poor investment through the private sector.

Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what targets his Department has set for reducing tuberculosis deaths of people with (a) HIV- and (b) non HIV-related tuberculosis.

Stephen O'Brien: As highlighted in ‘UK aid: Changing lives, delivering results’, the coalition Government are committed to supporting global efforts to halve tuberculosis deaths by 2015, In relation to deaths from TB in people living with HIV, in the coalition Government's recently launched Towards zero infections: The UK's position paper on HIV in the developing world' we committed to contribute to the UNAIDS and Stop TB Partnership's goal of reducing HIV-related TB among people living with HIV by 50% by 2015. We will do this through multilateral and bilateral support to help deliver the Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis 2011-15.

Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has set to reduce multi-drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government recognises that drug resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB) pose serious threats to achieving the goals of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-15. We are therefore working with our partners to ensure that prompt quality diagnosis and effective treatment is available to those who need it.
	Our support includes a 20 year commitment to UNITAID, the international facility for the purchase of drugs against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB, of up to €60 million per year subject to performance. UNITAID aims to triple access to rapid tests for multi-drug resistant TB and to significantly reduce the price of drug resistant TB medicines. We also fund research to: develop easier to use diagnostics for drug resistant TB; new TB medicines; and in the longer-term, effective TB vaccines. We also fund operational research to improve health service delivery to diagnose and treat people with drug resistant TB.

Carer's Allowance: Islwyn

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carers in Islwyn constituency currently in receipt of carers allowance will be affected by the planned introduction of the universal credit.

Chris Grayling: We continue to recognise the contribution made by carers and so carer's allowance is to remain payable as a separate benefit outside of universal credit.
	We will have an additional element within universal credit to recognise carers, similar to the carer premium currently payable within income-related benefits.
	Entitlement to universal credit will depend on a number of factors (such as earnings, family circumstances, housing costs). Departmental modelling estimates that around three-quarters of households where someone is receiving carer's allowance across Great Britain will be entitled to current benefits replaced by universal credit, or universal credit, in steady-state. However, due to sample size we cannot provide this information at a constituency level.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to support disabled people into employment.

Maria Miller: We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have the same employment opportunities and chances as everyone else to find and stay in work, regardless of their disability or benefit status.
	As part of this commitment, the Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for a range of employment provision specifically aimed at disabled people:
	Work Choice, which was launched in October last year, provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual. Work Choice is voluntary and available regardless of any benefits being claimed.
	Access to Work—provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people above and beyond what the employer could reasonably provide, to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and thus stay in work.
	The Department for Work and Pensions also funds residential training for unemployed disabled adults whose needs cannot be met through any other government funded programmes.
	Last month the Work programme rolled out across Great Britain, providing personalised back-to-work support for unemployed people, including disabled people. Contributory ESA customers will be able to volunteer for the Work programme, and if they wish, remain on the programme after their benefit has come to an end, ensuring that they receive all the support they need to help them return to work.
	The Work programme will be complemented by a new Jobcentre Plus offer which will allow more flexibility to Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers to judge which interventions will help individual customers, including disabled customers, most cost effectively and meet local need. Jobcentre Plus will continue to work closely with local health services, supported by disability employment advisers and work psychologists.
	The Sayce review, “Getting in, staying in and getting on”, was published on 9 June 2011. At the time of publication, I confirmed that Government would consult before moving to any decisions on the future strategy for specialist disability employment programmes.
	The Government's response and a separate public consultation have been launched through a written statement to the House on 9 June 2011, Official Report, columns 45-46WS. A programme of consultation events is planned over the summer, involving a wide range of stakeholders.

Jobcentre Plus: Closures

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any closures of jobcentre offices in (a) the North East and (b) England are planned.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh, I have asked him to provide the hon. member with the information requested.
	Letter from Darra Singh
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether any closures of jobcentre offices in (a) the North East and (b) England are planned. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The Government has set out an ambitious programme of reform and transformation. The introduction of Universal Credit and the Work Programme, alongside our plans to improve and personalise the services we offer, will provide both significant challenges and opportunities for Jobcentre Plus. We will become a smaller, leaner and more flexible organisation which delivers more of its services over the telephone and Internet.
	As we deliver more, of our services over the Internet, and as unemployment falls, so we will free up capacity in our network. Face-to-face contact will reduce as more services can be accessed online and as we simplify the benefit system. Ultimately, these reforms are aimed at delivering a better service in a more efficient manner.
	Our Jobcentres will remain central to our operation. The Government's reforms will transform and strengthen the support for people to get back into work. Our prime concern is to ensure that we have a Jobcentre network that is appropriate to deliver the service our customers need, and of course cost effectiveness and productivity will be a factor. Each District has been asked to produce a service delivery plan, mapping how customers in that District will be served in each locality.
	No decisions have yet been taken on any closures. Once we have developed our options we will consult with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. We will in addition, undertake full Equality Impact Assessments and actively seek to mitigate, as far as is possible, any potentially adverse impacts. These assessments will be used in our decision making about the future.

Common Agricultural Policy

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wycombe, of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 636W, on the common agricultural policy, what plans she has to ensure that the condition of chalk streams is taking into account in responding to climate change challenges as part of her Department's negotiations on future common agricultural policy expenditure.

James Paice: The Government are already working to make the existing Environmental Stewardship provisions within Axis 2 of the Rural Development Programme for England more effective through the ongoing ‘Making Environmental Stewardship More Effective’ project.
	Negotiations on CAP reform will start later this year. Future CAP expenditure should tackle the key objectives of encouraging a competitive, sustainable EU agriculture sector able to respond to climate change challenges, reducing reliance on subsidies and focusing resources on the provision of environmental public goods.
	Chalk streams are valued for their unique biological and environmental characters, and many are already designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest or have other protections.
	Improving or preserving the condition of chalk streams is already taken into account in national policy through the establishment of river basin management plans which are required under the water framework directive. This allows regional panels, which include local stakeholders, to work together to design suitable management plans for water bodies in their area.
	Recommendation 4 of the Government's response to the Lawton review ‘Making Space for Nature’, published in June, outlines measures to protect and improve the water environment:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13537-lawton-response-110607.pdf
	Under the water framework directive the UK is required to aim to achieve good chemical and ecological status in all inland and coastal waters by 2015.

Behavioural Insights Team

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what means the success of the Behavioural Insight Team's initiatives will be measured; and how frequently reviews of its performance will take place.

Francis Maude: The Behavioural Insights Team's quarterly Steering Board reviews progress on a regular basis. In July 2012, the two year anniversary of the team, the Steering Board will consider the team's progress in the round. Success metrics depend on the policy initiative in question, but will include costs to benefits analysis.

Behavioural Insights Team

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the Behavioural Insight Team's budget will be spent on marketing.

Francis Maude: No proportion of the Behavioural Insights Team budget will be spent on marketing.

Behavioural Insights Team

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many press officers are assigned to the Behavioural Insight Team.

Francis Maude: The team employs no press officers.

Behavioural Insights Team

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department has spent on travel expenses for the Behavioural Insight Team since September 2010.

Francis Maude: Travel expenses for the team, including travel for unpaid academic advisers, amounted to £8,198.37.

Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from the Downing Street Estate.

Francis Maude: There are no plans to generate low-carbon energy from the Downing street estate.
	The primary heat source for the estate is the Whitehall District Heating System, which runs from combined heat and power generation equipment. There are no plans to replace this.

Charitable Donations

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Behavioural Insight Team has made in developing a charitable project to improve donations.

Francis Maude: The recently published Giving White Paper
	www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/resource-library/giving-white-paper
	sets out what the Cabinet Office, with support from the Behavioural Insights Team, is doing to encourage charitable giving.

Food: Hygiene

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Behavioural Insight Team has made in relation to food hygiene.

Francis Maude: The recently published consumer empowerment strategy, “Better Choices, Better Deals”:
	www.bis.gov.uk/policies/consumer-issues/consumer-empowerment
	a joint BIS/Behavioural Insights Team publication, sets out how the team has been progressing work on food hygiene. This work is ongoing.

Organs: Donors

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Behavioural Insight Team has made in relation to levels of organ donation.

Francis Maude: The Behavioural Insights Team has been working with the Department of Health to trial a new 'prompted choice' for organ donation. The changes to the DVLA website will go live in the near future.

Public Sector: Procurement

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to ensure that all contracts put out to tender by Government departments include a social value element.

Francis Maude: The role of the public procurer is to secure value for money in buying the goods and services that Government needs. Where they represent value for money, social issues can be taken into account in a way that is consistent with procurement law.

Smoking

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Behavioural Insight Team has made in relation to reductions in levels of smoking.

Francis Maude: The Behavioural Insights Team and the Department of Health are working in partnership with Boots and a leading UK academic in the field of smoking cessation to trial ways to encourage more smokers to successfully quit smoking. Results are expected in 2012.

Clubs: Public Finance

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date the decision was taken by his Department to authorise public expenditure on an away day at the Brickhouse burlesque club; how much was spent on the away day and on which contractors and firms; what form the teambuilding event took; and what steps have been taken to reduce expenditure on away days.

Bob Neill: This away day event was authorised by the Department in February 2010, before the coalition Government took office. The booking was made under the last Administration, while the cost of the event was debited via the Government Procurement Card in May 2010.
	Poisson Rouge, an events management company, were contracted to provide the venue and the event. The total cost of the event was £4,719.21 which comprised £3,417.71 of payments made to Poisson Rouge and £1,301.50 to the venue, the Brickhouse.
	The event involved hire of a room during the day at the venue, for a review of work in internal audit. While I am informed the Brickhouse often features such figures as 'burlesque chanteuse Lady Beau Peep' and 'showgirl sensation Amber Topaz', the event in this instance did not involve civil servants watching, or indeed, performing cabaret or other eclectic entertainment.
	No alcohol was consumed at the event. The purpose of the staff event was to review work carried out for 2009-10, identify areas for improvement, agree changes for the forthcoming year to improve service delivery and build the team. However, the final part of the day did involve a team building event involving drumming, organised by Poisson Rouge.
	http://www.poissonrouge.co.uk/events-organisers/services/team-building/rhythm.asp
	The policy on such events has changed significantly following the arrival of the new Administration in May 2010. Team review events now take place at no or very limited costs, for example through using rooms in the Department. New checks and balances have been put in place, assisted by the discipline of the Department publishing all spending over £500 and greater openness over the Government Procurement Card.
	I am aware that Poisson Rouge has been used in the past by a number of public sector clients. Embracing transparency and reducing away day spending is a prime example of how both Whitehall and the town hall can make sensible savings to cut costs, protect frontline services and pay off the deficit inherited from the last administration.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs to the public purse have been incurred at each FiReControl room since it was constructed; what the cost to the public purse per month is of each Control room; how much has been spent on consultancy services for the FiReControl project to date; and what the monthly costs are of consultancy work connected with the regional FiReControl rooms.

Bob Neill: holding answer 10 June 2011
	In first instance, I refer the hon. Member to the National Audit Office report of 1 July 2011, HC 1272, on “The Failure of the FiReControl project”.
	It states:
	“The FiReControl project was flawed from the outset because it did not have the support of those essential to its success—local Fire and Rescue Services. The Department rushed the start of the project, failing to follow proper procedures. Ineffective checks and balances during initiation and early stages meant the Department committed itself to the project on the basis of broad-brush and inaccurate estimates of costs and benefits and an unrealistic delivery timetable, and agreed an inadequate contract with its IT supplier. The Department under-appreciated the project's complexity, and then mismanaged the IT contractor's performance and delivery. The Department failed to provide the necessary leadership to make the project successful, over-relying on poorly managed consultants and failing to sort out early problems with delivery by the contractor. The Department took a firmer grip of the project from 2009 and terminated the contract in December 2010 to avoid even more money being wasted. The Department is now trying to minimise the future cost of the project by subsidising Fire and Rescue Services to use the Regional Control Centres” (National Audit Office press release, 1 July 2011).
	The total running costs incurred at each control centre building (up to and including April 2011) and the monthly running costs over the last three years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Control centre building Cost incurred in total  (1) Estimated monthly running cost (inc. rent)  (1)   2011-12 Estimated monthly running cost (inc. rent)  (1)   2010-11 Estimated monthly running cost (inc. rent)  (1)   2009-10 
			 London 2,011,773 261,152 (2)268,320 (2)3,359 
			 South East 5,268,002 164,200 171,434 167,684 
			 South West 5,970,324 145,784 156,267 152,517 
			 East of England 4,307,538 155,833 168,338 155,817 
			 East Midlands 6,266,748 144,534 155,835 152,085 
		
	
	
		
			 West Midlands 5,460,625 158,574 169,243 165,493 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 4,175,2-54 145,725 153,965 144,638 
			 North East 5,894,453 142,647 150,434 146,684 
			 North West 4,534,320 141,241 155,620 150,953 
			 (1) All costs exclude VAT. (2) The building in London was completed on 26 February 2010 and was rent free until 26 November 2010. The 2010-11 figure from December 2010 is the estimated monthly running cost. 
		
	
	The National Audit Office report states on the empty buildings:
	“The Department's failure to manage the project as a whole has resulted in the creation of empty regional control centres. The nine regional control centres were purpose-built to house the new computerised equipment and were designed specifically for that purpose. The Department's decision to prioritise the procurement of the centres over the IT system at an early stage meant that the first centres were completed in June 2007, just three months after the IT contract had been awarded” (Full Report, p.8).
	A total of £68.6 million has been spent on consultancy services for the FiReControl project to date. There are currently no costs associated with consultancy work on the control centre buildings. Monthly cost comparisons between 2009-10 and 2010-11 are shown in the following table; the project closed in December 2010.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Month 2009-10 2010-11 
			 April 413,300 851,300 
			 May 390,500 397,000 
			 June 1,372,500 753,900 
			 July 845,500 773,400 
			 August 2,755,300 495,100 
			 September 937,000 647,800 
			 October 1,088,100 542,800 
			 November 99,400 613,700 
			 December 868,900 512,800 
			 January 702,100 280,000 
			 February 790,400 176,900 
			 March 998,500 38,100 
			 Total 10,480,600 6,082,700 
		
	
	The coalition Government took decisive action and closed down the last Government's costly and flawed project when it became clear that it could not be delivered to an acceptable timeframe. Our aim is to achieve the best possible value for money for the taxpayer from these expensive legacy buildings that we have been handed on by the previous administration.
	We have already reached agreement with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to take over the control centre in Merton. Our preference is for Fire and Rescue Services to use the centres as they are highly resilient and built for this purpose. Where we cannot reach agreement for Fire and Rescue Services to move in, we will actively seek suitable tenants for them.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Lancashire

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what sites in (a) Hyndburn and (b) Lancashire are owned by the (i) North West Regional Development Agency and (ii) Homes and Communities Agency.

Andrew Stunell: The Regional Development Agency assets are a matter for the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable).
	A detailed list of the assets owned by Homes and Communities Agency, broken down by local authority area, are listed on the agency website at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/land-and-property-assets
	These assets are a mix in terms of scale and type of land with many being part of ongoing negotiation or at a stage of contractual commitment for development, but are still in the agency's ownership. Others are small non-developable parcels such as grass verges.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets that have been used in the Libyan campaign are due for decommissioning under the strategic defence and security review; what elements of that capacity will be replaced; and in what time frame.

Liam Fox: holding answer 11 July 2011
	Following the strategic defence and security review, a number of assets have been, or are planned to be withdrawn, that have been used in Libya, these are as follows:
	the withdrawal from service of the Type 22 Frigate HMS Cumberland in April this year, without replacement;
	the withdrawal from service of the three variants of the TriStar transport/tanker aircraft as we transition to the more capable A330 (Voyager) over the next few years;
	reducing the role of the VC-10 transport/tanker aircraft to air-to-air refuelling only, with the target of withdrawing it by 2013 as Voyager enters service;
	the withdrawal from service of the C-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft by 2022, as we transition to the larger and more capable A400M aircraft;
	the withdrawal from service of the Sentinel aircraft, once these are no longer required to support operations in Afghanistan, and of the Sea King Mk 7 helicopter from 2016. We have a number of manned and remotely piloted aircraft either in-service or forthcoming that will mitigate the loss of these aircraft.
	We will continue to have the capability required to continue to support UK activity in Libya pursuant with UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

Military Police

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) duties and (b) priorities of service police in the (i) Army, (ii) RAF and (iii) Royal Navy are; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Each Service police force is headed by a Provost Marshal and directed by their respective services. Each force provides different capabilities and is therefore organised differently.
	Royal Military Police (RMP)
	The duties and priorities of the RMP are twofold; to police the Army and, to provide support to the Army. The first covers the provision of policing and investigative services in a contemporary operating environment at home and while deployed, in order to support the service justice system. The second covers the use of police and investigative skills to support military operations, and includes close protection for designated individuals.
	Royal Air Force (RAF) Police
	The RAF Police duties and priorities are to provide police, counter-intelligence and protective security support to enable RAF commanders to deliver effective military capability. Their roles include the policing of RAF stations at home and overseas, provision of higher level investigative support, and advising on security and risk management issues. They also provide tactical policing support to military operations including close protection and counter intelligence work.
	Royal Navy Police (RNP)
	The RNP support operational effectiveness and the delivery of military capability by the prevention, investigation and detection of crime and disciplinary offences across the naval service.
	The overriding priority for RNP is to support the Royal Navy on deployed operations and enhance the policing capability to deal with counter-piracy and narcotic operations. Within the UK base port areas, RNP policing priorities are to reduce crime that impacts on military capability and respond to the needs of military communities including concerns over crime and anti-social behaviour.

Military Police: Expenditure

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs of administration of the service police, including the Service Police Crime Bureau, were in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: It is important to note that administrative costs are recorded differently across the Service police.
	The administration costs of the Service police for financial year 2010-11 were as follows:
	Royal Military Police—£1,907,954
	This figure includes the administration cost of the Service Police Crime Bureau which is met by Provost Marshal (Army) and was £183,831 over the period. The figure does not include the costs of Royal Military Police or civilian personnel involved in administrative duties who are allocated to other military units.
	Royal Air Force Police—£4,632,000
	The RAF police figure covers all administration costs and includes civilian personnel costs at £2 million.
	Royal Navy Police—£246,744
	This figure does not include administrative costs associated with Royal Navy police on budgets other than fleet, sea-going units, deployed operations, or Tri Service establishments.

Service Police: Travel

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse was of travel for official purposes of civilian staff of the Service police, across the Army, RAF and Navy between May 2010 and 2011.

Andrew Robathan: The travel and subsistence costs incurred by civilian staff supporting the Service police was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Royal Navy police 0 
			 Royal Air Force police 1,901.74 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a figure for the civilian staff supporting the Royal Military Police (RMP) since any travel costs are met by the relevant unit where the RMP are located, therefore this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Children in Care: GCSE

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) looked after children and (b) other children gained five GCSEs or equivalents at grades A* to C in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010; and how many of those included GCSEs or equivalents in English and mathematics.

Tim Loughton: Information on the percentage of looked after children who achieve five GCSEs, as well as those who achieve five GCSEs including English and mathematics, is available in table 3.1 of the Department's Statistical First Release, Outcomes for Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England, as at 31 March 2010. This shows the percentage of children looked after continuously for 12 months at 31 March who achieved five or more GCSEs (including equivalents) for all years since 2006. Information on years prior to 2006 is not available from this data source. The publication can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000978/index.shtml
	Information taken from table 3.1 is shown in table 1; this follows the current practice of comparing the GCSE performance of children looked after continuously for 12 months with that of all children. Information on the GCSE performance of children who are not looked after can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Table 1: Key Stage 4 performance of children who have been looked after continuously for at least 12 months at 31 March  (1)   compared to Key Stage 4 performance of all children, years: 2006-10—coverage: England 
			   Percentage of children 
			     Who achieved (GCSE or equivalent) 
			  Number eligible to sit GCSEs  (2) Entered for at least 1 GCSE or equivalent Entered for at least 5 GCSEs or equivalent Any pass 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-G 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and mathematics 
			 2006 4,900 62.5 49.0 61.8 40.7 11.8 5.9 
			 2007 4,900 61.8 48.5 61.3 40.8 13.5 6.9 
			 2008 5,000 66.3 53.0 66.3 46.1 16.6 8.5 
			 2009 5,000 68.5 56.0 68.7 49.7 21.1 9.8 
			 2010 5,100 77.6 58.9 78.0 50.6 25.1 11.6 
			         
			 All children(3)        
			 2006 648,800 92.3 97.5 97.3 90.1 59.0 45.6 
			 2007 655,100 94.4 99.5 98.0 90.9 61.4 46.3 
			 2008 653,000 93.8 99.1 98.6 91.6 65.3 47.6 
			 2009 634,500 98.8 94.3 98.9 92.3 70.0 49.8 
			 2010 639,700 98.8 94.3 99.0 92.7 75.3 53.4 
			 (1) Children looked after continuously for at least 12 months as at 31 March excluding those children in respite care. (2) Number of eligible children based dh those aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August. (3) Figures (or all children are taken from Statistical First Release. GCSE and Equivalent Results in England, 2009/10 (Revised). Figures on GCSE entries are taken from equivalent earlier publications. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Source: CLA-NPD matched data 
		
	
	Information on the GCSE attainment of children looked after continuously for 12 months in 1997 is not available. The earliest data available is for 2000 and relates to all children looked after continuously at 30 September each year. This data includes GNVQs but does not include any other GCSE equivalent qualifications. As this data has been derived from a different data source and includes a different cohort of children, the percentages given in table 2 are not directly comparable with those shown in table 1. Information on the percentage of children looked after continuously for 12 months at 30 September who achieved five or more A* to C grade GCSEs including English and mathematics or the percentage of these children entered for GCSEs is not available. The available information is shown in table 2.
	
		
			 Table 2: GCSE performance of looked-after children in Year 11 compared with all children, school years ending 30 September 2000 and 2001, England 
			 Numbers and percentages 
			  Looked-after children All children  (1) 
			  Numbers Percentages  (2) Percentages 
			  2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 
			 Number in Year 11 3,900 4,200 — — — — 
			 Number who sat at least 1 GCSE or GNVQ(3) 2,100 2,200 53.5 54.1 — — 
			        
			 Number who obtained at least:       
			 1 GCSE at grade A* to G or a GNVQ 1,900 2,100 40.2 49.6 94 95 
			 5 GCSE's at grade A* to G 1,400 1,400 35.5 33.1 89 90 
		
	
	
		
			 5 GCSE's at grade A* to C 280 330 7.3 8.0 49 48 
			 (1) Source: DfES statistical bulletin: GCSE/GNVQ and GCE A/ASA/CE/Advanced GNVQ Examination Results 2000/01—England. Issued May 2002. (2) Expressed as a percentage of all looked after children in Year 11. (3) DfES did not collect this data item for all children.

Environment Protection

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an estimate of the average rate of return on investment for a company investing in low-carbon technologies.

Gregory Barker: A company's rate of return is often confidential and will depend on the nature and stage of investment and type of technology being invested in.
	An assessment of the impact on the cost of capital for low carbon technologies was undertaken as part of the Government's commitment to transform the UK's electricity system. This information is set out in the impact assessment published alongside the Electricity Market Reform White Paper.
	The current bands set for the current Renewables Obligation were developed using assumed hurdle rates, (i.e. minimum rate of return required to invest) developed in 2007(1).
	More recent assessments of hurdle rates have been undertaken as part of a report produced by Arup in June 2011(2).
	Information regarding DECC's assumptions around the required rates of return under the Feed In Tariffs scheme for different classes of investor is available in ‘Design of Feed in Tariffs for sub-5MW electricity in Great Britain—Quantitative Analysis for DECC’(3), and for the Renewable Heat Incentive in the impact assessment published in March 2011(4).
	(1) Ernst and Young (2007), Impact of banding the Renewables Obligation: Costs of Electricity Production.
	(2) Arup, Review of the Generation Costs and Deployment Potential of Renewable Electricity Technologies in the UK, June 2011.
	(3) (Poyry/Element Energy, July 2009; available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/Renewable%20Electricity%20Financial%20Incentives/1_20090715135352_e_@@_RelateddocElementPoyryreport onquantitativeissuesinFITsdesignFINAL.pdf
	(4) DECC, Renewable Heat Incentive Impact Assessment, March 2011.

Environment Protection

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on steps to encourage research and development in low-carbon technologies by universities.

Gregory Barker: DECC ministers regularly hold meetings with their counterparts in BIS to discuss a range of issues. The primary channel for BIS and DECC Ministers to engage on low-carbon research and development is through the Low Carbon Innovation Group. The group is co-chaired by the Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts), and myself, and includes representation from Research Councils UK.

Housing: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding was allocated to the City of York council for capital investment in housing stock through the Decent Homes programme in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
	Government investment in council owned housing stock was primarily provided through the housing revenue account subsidy system in the form of local authorities supported capital expenditure, arms length management organisations supported borrowing allocations and major repairs allowance. In 2009-10 the City of York was allocated £1 million in local authorities supported capital expenditure and £5.13 million in major repairs allowance. In 2010-11 the city was allocated £5.34 million in major repairs allowance.

Renewable Energy

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the incentives are which the Government makes available to energy companies to encourage the use of renewable energy.

Gregory Barker: The current financial mechanisms to incentivise renewable electricity are the renewables obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme.
	Since its introduction in 2002, the RO has succeeded in more than tripling the level of large-scale renewable electricity in the UK from 1.8% in 2002 to 7% in 2010(1). It currently supports around 6.3GW of accredited capacity and is worth around £1.4 billion to the renewable electricity industry.
	The FITs scheme was launched in April 2010 to incentivise the deployment of small scale low carbon electricity generation. To date, over 44,800 FITs installations have been registered.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is due to go ahead this year to support renewable heat.
	(1) On a renewables obligation basis.
	Source:
	Energy Trends, June 2011

Warm Front Scheme: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on the Warm Front Scheme in York in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Gregory Barker: The following table shows the total Warm Front spend in York(1) in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	
		
			  Spend (£) 
			 2009-10 674,588.82 
			 2010-11 896,277.50 
			 (1) The figures are for the local authority of York due to the constituency changing between 2009 and 2011.

Belarus: Politics and Government

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of reports of the actions of the government of Belarus in relation to online dissent in that country.

William Hague: I am appalled at the increasingly repressive approach being taken by the authorities in Belarus. Opposition and independent media websites have been subjected to increasing numbers of cyber attacks, in particular before and after the so-called "silent" protests which have taken place throughout Belarus in recent weeks. I and the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), have made clear repeatedly to Belarus that basic human rights and freedom of expression must be respected.

Foreign Relations

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any meetings are scheduled between members of the Government acting in a private capacity and foreign heads of state and government.

William Hague: No.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the (a) number and (b) seniority of defectors from the Gaddafi government in Libya since the beginning of Operation Ellamy.

William Hague: The number of Libyans who have deserted or defected from Gaddafi's regime is steadily increasing. It is hard to give a definitive number, but recent departures include five generals and two colonels, reported along with soldiers of other ranks; the Libyan ambassadors in Rome and Berlin; and 17 members of the Libyan football team.
	Since the beginning of Operation Ellamy, the Foreign Minister, Musa Kusa, the Labour Minister Ali Al-Amin Mansur and the head of the National Oil Corporation, Shukri Ghanem, are the most senior members of the regime to have left Gaddafi. These departures are a measure of the growing pressure on those close to Gaddafi—both from sustained military action to prevent the regime attacking its own people, and from UN and EU sanctions.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Greek Government on the Gaza Aid flotilla.

David Lidington: Officials from our embassy in Athens have discussed the matter of the Gaza flotilla with the Greek authorities and have relayed to them the United Kingdom's position on this. Our travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories gives clear guidance against any attempt to enter Gaza by sea. We continue to advise against participating in flotillas or overland convoys to Gaza because of the risks involved.

Syria

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his departments met the hon. Member for Braintree (i) before and (ii) after his meeting with President Assad of Syria in June 2011 to discuss the meeting.

William Hague: I have not met the Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr Newmark), to discuss his visit to Syria. However, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), spoke briefly to the hon. Member for Braintree both before and after the visit and they have also spoken in the margins of a meeting in the House. No other Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister has met the hon. Member for Braintree, although following his return from Syria he has met FCO officials.

Entry Clearances: Russia

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to prohibit the issue of visas to Russian officials alleged to be responsible for the (a) arrest, (b) torture and (c) death of Sergei Magnitsky.

Damian Green: As the Prime Minister has made clear, the Government remains very concerned by the circumstances surrounding Mr Magnitsky's death. It is important that the Russian authorities carry out a thorough and transparent investigation, given the serious allegations that have been raised. The Government welcomed the recent publication of the conclusions of the report by the Presidential Council for Human Rights, and hopes that the official investigation into this case announced by President Medvedev in November 2009 will soon be completed.
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), does have the power to exclude foreign nationals whose presence in the UK she judges would not be conducive to the public good. Furthermore, all foreign nationals seeking entry to the UK must satisfy either an entry clearance officer overseas or an immigration officer at the port of arrival that they fully meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
	However, the duty of confidentiality means that the Government are unable to discuss the details of individual immigration cases.

Members: Complaints

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the policy of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is on naming a complainant against a hon. Member in the published determination of the complaint.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Compliance Officer for IPSA, who is statutorily independent of IPSA's executive branch. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Luke March, Com pliance Officer, dated July 2011
	As the Compliance Officer for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the policy of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is on naming a complainant against an hon. Member in the published determination of the complaint.
	There is no legal obligation on the Compliance Officer to publish the names of complainants.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what uses his Department has made of the annual survey of hours and earnings data produced by the Office of National Statistics in the last three years.

Justine Greening: Officials across the Treasury make occasional use of the annual survey of hours and earnings data to inform policy development. As there is no single user of this data at the Treasury, to answer this question in full would entail disproportionate costs.

Energy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with (a) the First Minister of Wales and (b) Ministers at the Department of Energy and Climate Change on devolving decision-making on consents for energy projects with a generating capacity up to 100 megawatts; and if she will publish the minutes of any such meetings;
	(2)  what her policy is on the devolution of decision-making on consents for electricity projects with a generating capacity up to 100 megawatts; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan) and I have had a number of informal discussions with Ministers at the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the First Minister on a range of issues relating to energy policy including consents for energy projects. As these were informal discussions no minutes were taken.
	The Government shares the view of the previous administration that the system of consents for electricity projects with a generating capacity in excess of 50 megawatts should be one that minimises delay and commands investor confidence. This is most effectively achieved by a common consents regime for major infrastructure in England and Wales.

Renewable Energy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether she has discussed with Ministers in the Department of Energy and Climate Change the development of low-carbon energy technologies in Wales; and if she will publish the minutes of any such meetings.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have had a number of informal discussions with Ministers from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on energy policy, and in particular the development of low-carbon technologies in Wales. As these were informal discussions no minutes were taken.

Business: Surveys

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department next plans to undertake a small business survey; and what schedule he has put in place for small business surveys to 2015.

Edward Davey: The most recent BIS Small Business Survey was published in May 2011 and current practice is to undertake this large scale survey every two years.
	In addition BIS undertakes a range of regular surveys and other research relating to small businesses, details of which can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/analytical-unit/research-and-evaluation

Business: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of companies in Yorkshire and the Humber that exported goods or services to (a) other EU countries and (b) non-EU countries (i) between May 2009 and May 2010 and (ii) between May 2010 and 2011.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of companies exporting goods from Yorkshire and The Humber: 2009-11 
			  2009  2010  2011 
			  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total 2009 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total 2010 Q1 
			 Exporting to EU 1,390 1,364 1,356 1,405 1,597 1,379 1,374 1,410 1,436 1,635 1,386 
			 Exporting to non-EU 3,169 3,355 3,207 3,290 4,994 3,158 3,323 3,421 3,380 4,939 3,158 
			 Total Exporter Count 3,559 3,686 3,530 3,630 5,280 3,494 3,630 3,746 3,736 5,231 3,509 
			 Notes: 1. Only those companies trading above the Intrastat threshold are included under ‘Exporting to EU’. Companies below this threshold do not have to make Intrastat trade declarations to HMRC. 2. All counts are based on the Regional Trade Statistics (RTS) methodology. 3. The RTS is published quarterly, Q1 is January-March; Q2 is April-June; Q3 is July-September; and Q4 is October-December. 4. The latest RTS publication is first quarter (Q1) 2011. 5. Where quarterly company counts are indicated, the figures reflect the number of companies active in that quarter. The annual total company counts do not correspond to the sum of the quarterly company counts, but to the count of unique companies active at any time during the year. Source: HM Revenue and Customs, Regional Trade Statistics (RTS) 
		
	
	The data supplied only relates to companies that have traded in goods.

Enterprise Promotion

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage enterprise promotion activities in disadvantaged areas.

Mark Prisk: The Government are leading a series of measures which will promote enterprise and which will be of particular help to disadvantaged areas.
	In October 2010 the Government announced that the first Local Enterprise Partnerships were ready to move forward and establish their local enterprise partnership boards. The Partnerships will play a central role in determining local economic priorities and undertaking activities to drive economic growth and the creation of local jobs:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/local/localenterprisepartnerships/
	In October 2010 the Government also launched the New Enterprise Allowance to support unemployed people to start their own business.
	The allowance is available to Jobseekers Allowance customers who have been claiming for 26-weeks or more. Participants have access to a volunteer business mentor to provide guidance and support as they develop their business plan and through the early months of trading. Once a customer can demonstrate they have a viable business proposition with the potential for growth in the future, they can access financial support.
	This will consist of:
	a weekly allowance worth £1,274 over 26 weeks, paid at £65 a week for the first 13 weeks and £33 a week for a further 13 weeks, and
	if they need start-up capital, they may also be able to access a loan up to £1,000 to help with their start-up costs.
	Details can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/new-enterprise-allowance/
	In November 2010 the Government announced that we will remove barriers preventing social tenants from applying to start up a business based in their home and will work with social landlords to encourage their tenants to develop entrepreneurial skills.
	In July 2011 the Government announced the launch of a new mentoring scheme, developed in partnership with the private sector, to improve access to, and stimulate the demand for, mentoring. Developing and established businesses will now have access to more knowledge and support through a brand new web portal:
	www.mentorsme.co.uk

Environment Protection

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress his Department has made on the green economy roadmap.

Mark Prisk: The Green Economy Roadmap will now be published at the end of July. This Department has worked with the other lead Departments—Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs—to finalise the content and ensure it reflects the latest developments on major initiatives such as the Green Investment Bank and the energy market reforms package. The draft Roadmap document has been discussed with a number of stakeholders, including business, and the Green Economy Council, to ensure we have a clear vision and coherent framework.

Military Aircraft: Exports

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions with other governments (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had on the export of (i) Hawk Mk. 128 and (ii) Eurofighter Typhoon Aircraft.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 11 July 2011
	During a visit to Japan in June the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), discussed Typhoon with the Japanese Government. I was present with the Prime Minister on 28 July 2010 at the signing of the agreement to supply 57 Hawk trainer aircraft to India. Ministers from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, and from a range of other Departments, regularly discuss Typhoon and Hawk exports, as well as other defence and security export prospects with their counterparts overseas, and will continue to do so in line with this Government's commitment to promote responsible defence exports.

THQ Digital Studios

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2011 to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Official Report, columns 480-1W, on THQ, what discussions UK Trade and Investment officials have had with representatives of the video games industry on the closure of THQ's Warrington studios.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 6 July 2011
	No officials from UK Trade and Investment have had any discussions with representatives of the video games industry specifically regarding the closure of THQ's Warrington studios.
	UKTI and Department for Culture Media and Sport officials have regular discussions regarding the state of the UK games industry with TIGA, the trade association representing the UK's games industry and the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE), the UK's leading videogames trade body.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has issued any guidance on the generation of low-carbon energy on estates owned by (a) his Department and (b) the NHS;
	(2)  if he will explore the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on his estate.

Simon Burns: The Department has not issued any specific guidance on the generation of low carbon energy on estates owned by the Department, although guidance is received from the Carbon Trust though the Carbon Management Programme.
	The Department has issued “Health Technical Memorandum 07-02 Encode, making energy work in healthcare” and “HTM 07-07 Sustainable Health and Social Care Buildings”, which have been placed in the Library. Both documents encourage the national health service to consider a wide range of low carbon energy opportunities. The NHS also takes guidance from the Carbon Trust through the Carbon Management Programme and is further informed through the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, which is supported by the Department.
	The Department will look to explore the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on its estate in this financial year.

Mental Health

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that Public Health England takes account of the findings of his Department's mental health strategy with respect to linkages between mental health, wellbeing and employment.

Paul Burstow: Subject to the Health and Social Care Bill receiving Royal Assent, Public Health England will be an integrated public health delivery body that will support the delivery of public health services by providing information and scientific advice to local authorities and the national health service. It will be established on 1 April 2013. We will ensure that Public Health England will support the mental health strategy objectives by including improving mental health and well being within its overarching functions.

Mental Health Advisory Group

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) speech and language therapists and (b) allied health professionals are to be represented on the Ministerial Advisory Group for his Department's mental health strategy.

Paul Burstow: Allied health professions have representation on the Ministerial Advisory Group for the mental health strategy through the Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF). The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists is a member of the AHPF.

NHS Commissioning Board

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to promote the integration of health and social care budgets.

Paul Burstow: Flexibilities in the National Health Service 2006 Act already support opportunities for integrated working by facilitating lead commissioning, integrated provision and pooled budgets.
	The Government have identified greater integration between health and social care as a key priority and has demonstrated its importance by the development of new and integrated health, social care and public health outcomes frameworks.
	Furthermore, in line with the recommendations of the NHS Future Forum, our proposed amendments to the Health and Social Care bill will ensure, subject to parliamentary approval, that there will be a stronger duty on the NHS Commissioning Board, clinical commissioning groups, the Health and Wellbeing boards and monitor to encourage integrated working at all levels.
	Improving integration between health and social care will also be one of themes of the engagement exercise following on from the Government's response to the report of the Commission on the funding of care and support.

NHS: Telephone Services

Anne-Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) GP surgeries, (b) hospitals and (c) dental practices in (i) England and (ii) Devon that operate 0844 or 0845 telephone numbers.

Simon Burns: The Department has made no assessment of the number of general practitioner surgeries, hospitals, or dental practices in England that use 0844 or 0845 numbers for patients seeking appointments.
	The Department issued guidance and directions to national health service bodies in December 2009 on the cost of telephone calls, which prohibit the use of telephone numbers, which charge the patient more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number to contact the NHS. It is currently the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that local practices are compliant with the directions and guidance.